Labour conference conference - live updates: John McDonnell plans to nationalise key services as Jon Ashworth calls for £500m NHS cash injection
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.John McDonnell has been outlining Labour's plans for widespread nationalisation of services - including the scrapping of the Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) and moves to bring existing deals back "in house".
The Shadow Chancellor made the announcement during his keynote speech at the party's annual conference in Brighton.
Mr McDonnell confirmed that Labour would nationalise water, rail and energy industries, as well as bringing Royal Mail back under public control.
Elsewhere, the party's National Executive Committee published a statement on its Brexit position after criticism that the issue will not be properly debated at the conference.
Delegates will now be given the opportunity to discuss the current policy but there will be no vote on contentious issues such as whether the UK should remain in the EU's single market.
The truce between Labour's warring factions seems to have held in Brighton so far, but it is clear that a debate over the party’s Brexit policy is looming behind the scenes. One Labour MP, Heidi Alexander, said the failure to fully debate Brexit made the party a "laughing stock".
Earlier in the conference, Jeremy Corbyn suggested he was ready to “listen” to party members who want the UK to stay in the single market. It came after 30 senior figures, including Labour MPs, signed an open letter calling for the party leadership to commit to full and permanent membership of the single market after Britain’s exit from the European Union.
Elsewhere, Joe Watts reports that Philip Hammond has pointedly refused to back Theresa May as Prime Minister.
The Chancellor declined four times to say he supported Ms May's plan to stay on until 2022.
It follows days of sniping between Mr Hammond's allies and those of Boris Johnson and revelations that both were among ministers plotting to remove Ms May after the election.
It raises the prospect of a bad-tempered Conservative party conference as MPs and activists prepare to gather in Manchester at the weekend.
Writing for The Independent, Paul Renteurs says Jeremy Corbyn's allies were right to try to keep Brexit off the Labour conference agenda.
He says the issue is "less important to many voters than stagnating wages, declining police numbers, poverty, the visceral cutting of local government funding, Islamic terrorism, the rise in hate crime, and the burgeoning funding NHS crisis".
Read more here.
Nigel Farage discusses abuse he has received online https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DKk2CTAW0AAwptK.jpg
The Lib Dems have Glee Club. Labour has Keith Vaz singing Bob Marley. #labourconference2017 #jammin
After much discussion, Sadiq Khan is now speaking at Labour conference. He wasn't given a slot in the schedule but the Conference Arrangements Committee ultimately intervened and allowed him to speak.
The London Mayor reflects on a year that has seen four terrorist attacks in London.
"It’s been one of the darkest times in London's recent history. We’ve been through too much suffering, too much horror, and too much loss."
Khan asks the audience to stand and applaud London's emergency service workers.
Thanks to our police officers, community support officers and staff. Thanks to our firefighters and control room operators. Thanks to our frontline NHS staff, and all who support them - our paramedics, nurses, doctors and health workers. And thanks to our transport staff who are so often on the front line.
On behalf of all Londoners - and the entire Labour Party - thank you for everything you do. You truly are heroes."
Sadiq Khan compares Britain today to the 1990s.
"This all feels very familiar. A weak and divided Tory Government, refusing to face up to the challenges ahead. Bickering and infighting over Europe, putting our jobs and economy at risk. Chronic underinvestment in public services causing a crisis in our schools and hospitals. And crime on the rise."
Political columnist Andrew Grice asks why Jeremy Corbyn seems reluctant to debate Brexit. He says the Labour leader should support the UK staying in the EU single market.
Read the full piece here.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments